Adaptable Cleanable Beverage Container

ABSTRACT

An adaptable, cleanable beverage container, generally for athletic use, with an enlarged opening at the top for depositing materials and flavors, a removable base for ease of cleaning, and an optionally insertable column removably connected to said removable base for securing a cooling or heating fluid or gel into the container. Optionally, the beverage container walls can be insulated with a hearing or cooling gel or other liquid for providing temperature control.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/857,561, filed on Jun. 5, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present apparatus relates generally to adaptable, cleanable beveragecontainers, generally for athletic use.

SUMMARY

The present invention generally relates to light weight, extrusion blowmolded plastic containers particularly containers similar those used inthe milk and related beverage industries. One gallon and other similarsize plastic containers are the containers of choice for those whoseriously exercise and want to hydrate quickly at the gym or otherexercise facilities. Often, these gallon size containers are usedbecause they are refillable and can be readily mixed with body buildingprotein or flavors. While the existing containers provide adequateamount of liquid for hydration, they are often difficult to mix withbody building proteins or flavors given the small opening at the top ofthe traditional milk jug container. The present invention has a largeropening mechanism and internal column-like container for allowinginsertion of body building powder or fluid, and such a larger openingfurther allows for a more thorough cleaning of the container. Further,the present invention, unlike traditional milk jug containers or likecontainers, enhances temperature control of its contents by reachingambient temperature at a slower rate due to thicker walls and,optionally, insulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the principles ofthe present invention with removable threaded base;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a container embodying the principles of thepresent invention with removable threaded base;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container embodying the principles ofthe present invention's enlarged cap; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container embodying the principles ofthe present invention's fill container for use with ice or otherchilling liquids or similar products which connects to removablethreaded base.

The present invention generally relates to light weight, extrusion blowmolded plastic containers particularly containers similar those used inthe milk and related beverage industries. The present invention, whilesimilar in outer appearance to a standard milk jug 2, has a largerbottom removable base 3 for allowing inclusion of body building powderor fluid or other flavors. The jug 2 larger bottom opening furtherallows for a more thorough cleaning of the container. The jug 2 largerbottom opening is sealed by removable base 3 and the jug 2 top is sealedby cap 1, thereby creating a closed container capable of storing itscontents without leakage. Jug 2 in one embodiment has the thickness ofat least twice that of a standard milk-jug. The jug 2 bottom wouldconsist of about 6.35 mm to 25.4 mm of plastic material, and jug 2 sidewalls through the jug 2 top about 2.0 mm to about 25.4 mm of plasticmaterial, depending on if the walls are insulated. In the preferredembodiment, the jug 2 bottom would be about 12.7 mm, and the jug 2 sidewalls through the jug 2 top about 6.35 mm. These thicker walls preventheating or cooling loss thereby allowing the jug 2 container to stay ata temperature for a longer period. The top wall portion of the jug 2extends from the sidewall portions and merges with a neck that definesthe mouth of the container with a larger opening at its bottom toaccommodate a threaded sealable removable base 3. Jug 2 is provided witha handle so a person may carry the contents of jug 2 to and fromactivities.

In another variation of the present invention, the jug 2 container wallscan be insulated with an outer wall and an inner wall with addedinsulation between the two surrounding the perimeter of the jug 2container. It is preferable that the jug 2 wall thickness for insulationbe maintained substantially the same throughout the container, except asmay be necessary to support threaded sealable removable base 3 at thejug 2 container bottom. The insulation between the container walls canbe heated, cooled or frozen, accordingly, for the purposes ofmaintaining the desired temperature of the container contents. Theinsulation can be a heating or cooling fluid or gel dispersed within theinner and outer walls of the jug 2 container.

Among the benefits of the container of the present invention are theability to use a removable insertable column 6 that can hold ice, hotwater or other cooling or heating fluids or gels, which then can cool orheat the surrounding liquid within the container. The insertable column5 can be attachable to a base portion 4 of removable base 3 of thepresent invention and optionally capable of threading to the baseportion 4. The removable insertable column 5 is may be closed at its topand bottom if the internal fluid or contents of the insertable columnare not intended to mix with the contents of the container; otherwise,the optional removable insertable column 5 will be open at the top toallow the contents of said column to disperse or otherwise melt into thesurrounding container fluid. Alternatively, removable insertable column5 can be closed at its top and perforated throughout to aid indispersion of the removable insertable column contents within thecontainer. In one embodiment, the bottom of removable insertable column5 is always inserted into base portion 4 before removable base 3 isthreaded into jug 2 to seal the jug container bottom. In anotherembodiment, removable base 3 has no removable base portion 4 but is aone piece removable base capable of sealing the bottom jug portion 2such that the contents of the jug 2 are sealed. The present inventionalso has a standard top cap 1 conformed to the thickness of the jug 2walls.

Removable base 3, with and without the inclusion of base portion 4, isdesigned to allow additional cleaning of the container, and for theinsertion of the removable insertable column 5 above, something notpossible in an existing standard container of similar type. If removablebase 3 is made with base portion 4, then removable insertable column 5creates a seal with removable base 3 thereby preventing container jug 2material leakage when removable base 3 is threaded to the jug 2 bottom.In another embodiment, removable base 3 may be constructed such that ithas no base portion 4 and, therefore, would not have a removableinsertable column 5. Optionally, all threaded jug 2 portions can containrubber seals to further prevent leakage, as necessary.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Itshould be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary onlyand should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

The foregoing description comprise illustrative embodiments of thepresent invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art thatthe within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various otheralternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within thescope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps ofa method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on theorder of the steps of that method. Many modifications and otherembodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the artto which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings inthe foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employedherein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not forpurposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.

I claim:
 1. A plastic container comprising: a threaded open bottomportion defining a first outlet for said container; a sidewall portionjoined to said threaded bottom portion, said sidewall portion comprisingfour face panels and at least one intermediate panel per said four facepanels alternately arranged therearound, said intermediate panels beingnarrower in width than said face panels and being respectively connectedat the vertical sides to said face panels, said four face panels andsaid at least one intermediate panels forming an octagon-like shape; anda top wall portion extending from said sidewall portion and merging to athreaded open neck defining an second outlet for said container, ahandle being formed in said top wall portion; a threaded plastic basecapable of sealing said first outlet of said container; and a threadedplastic cap capable of sealing said first outlet of said container. 2.The plastic container according to claim 1 wherein said top wall portionand said sidewall portion contain an inner wall and an outer wallcapable of receiving insulation.
 3. The plastic container according toclaim 1 wherein said container is a one-gallon container.
 4. The plasticcontainer according to claim 1, furthering comprising: A hollowcontainer column sized to fit within said plastic container; said hollowcontainer column containing a container column top, and a closedthreaded container column bottom; said threaded plastic base contains athreaded center for receiving said threaded container column bottom; andsaid hollow container column and said threaded plastic base areoperatively connected to seal said first outlet of said container. 5.The plastic container according to claim 4 wherein said top wall portionand said sidewall portion contain an inner wall and an outer wallcapable of receiving insulation.
 6. The plastic container according toclaim 4 wherein said container is a one-gallon container.
 7. The plasticcontainer according to claim 4, wherein said hollow container column isperforated throughout the circumference of said hollow container column.8. The plastic container according to claim 1, wherein said threadedplastic base and said threaded plastic cap contain a rubber seal.
 9. Theplastic container according to claim 4, wherein said threaded plasticbase and said threaded plastic cap contain a rubber seal.
 10. Theplastic container according to claim 4, wherein said threaded containercolumn bottom contains a rubber seal.